Montgomery Township Park and Recreation Board Minutes of Meeting for April 11, 2007 At 8:10p.m., Chairman Bill Maule called the meeting to order. Larry Fiel, David Keightly, Barry Weinstein, Keith Johnson, Leesa Meade, Bob Witmer (Board of Supervisor Liaison), Kevin Costello (Public Works Director), Pam Gural Bear (Assistant Township Manager), Evelyn DiFeo (Recreation Coordinator) and John Chambers (Township Engineer) were present. Public Comment Chairman Maule moved Public Comment from Agenda Item number 3 to Agenda Item number 2. Disc Golf Course Dr. John Duesler, designer of the Disc Golf Course, presented the proposed design to the Park and Recreation Board. Dr. Duesler thanked the Montgomery Township Park and Recreation Board for purchasing the course. He said this particular course will be one of the most beautifully designed in the state of Pennsylvania, and it was designed to be used by all participants regardless of skill level. Dr. Duesler then mentioned that holes 5 through 9 will require some clearing of the trees. Mr. Costello explained to the Park and Recreation Board that the Board of Supervisors approved the concept but wanted to see a layout of the course before allowing bids to be accepted. Mr. Chambers will review the proposed plan, make any necessary changes and put together schematics for the bidding process. Mr. Fiel asked if the additional work that will be required to complete the course will affect the costs. Dr. Duesler explained that the quoted costs will not change. Phase I of the project is for consulting and designing the course, and Phase II is the construction of the course. Dr. Kuhn asked if the course would require a lot of maintenance. Dr. Duesler and Mr. Costello explained that, to the contrary, maintenance is less than that of a ball field. Dr. Duesler also explained that the course will attract a group of Disc Golfers who will take pride in the course and maintain it as if it were their own. Dr. Duesler suggested that the Board of Supervisors conduct a public hearing in order to create resident awareness. Dr. Duesler also said that he has testified at many township hearings regarding the installation of these courses. Dr. Kuhn asked if it would create a Page 1 of 6
huge liability for the Township. Dr. Duesler said no, nothing out of the ordinary of any other activity. At the next Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board will need to approve the layout and then Mr. Chambers will put together the schematics for the bids. There was no additional public comment. Old Business Invasive Plants at Windlestrae Park Discussion Mr. Keightly explained to Mr. Chambers that he and Ms. Zybinski were in disagreement on what invasive plants should be removed from the park. Mr. Keightly thinks that the areas around the pond should be cleared out for additional active recreation. Ms. Zybinski thinks that all the areas should be cleared for environmental reasons. Mr. Keightly also expressed he was not sure what was considered invasive and what was not. Mr. Chambers explained that if the Township wants to make the pond available for public use as a fishing pond, the Park and Recreation Board would have to consider removing all the growth around the pond. The pond would then need to have the silt removed and be dredged. Mr. Chambers continued to explain that some of the plants will need to be left to create a buffer between the pollutants and the water. Mr. Chambers said that any Malta Flora Rose and poison ivies should be removed, but not around the creek. Page 2 of 6
Mr. Chambers explained to the Park and Recreation Board they need to decide what route they would like to take for the pond. The Park and Recreation Board members discussed and agreed that they would like to clear the area around the pond and have it drudged so that people can eventually use it for recreation, including fishing. The Park and Recreation Board asked Mr. Chambers for a cost estimate. Mr. Chambers said that a permit would need to be filed with the Department of Environmental Protection. He continued to explain that the water would have to be made deep enough to allow fish to go to the bottom to get away from the heat. Mr. Costello reiterated that the invasive plants should be removed from the sensitive areas of the park, such as the wetlands, but should be left along the creek. Chairman Maule asked Mr. Costello to obtain a quote for clearing around the pond at Windlestrae Park. Mr. Chambers said he would get the costs to redo the pond and as well as the time frame for project completion. Mr. Weinstein asked what would happen if the Township performed all this work on the pond without the permit from the Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Chambers explained the Township could be heavily fined. Hartman Road Park Mr. Chambers said that the David Cutler Group has 30,000 square yards of top soil to get rid of and wanted to know if the Park and Recreation Board would like to use it to grade the proposed Hartman Road Park. Mr. Keightly suggested using the top soil for the work that needs to be completed at Whistlestop Park. Mr. Costello explained he does not have a place to keep the top soil nor the manpower to move it. Mr. Costello continued to explain that the Whistlestop Park project will not be able to begin this year because baseball season is starting, soccer will soon begin, and the police have an event scheduled for the fall. The Park and Recreation Board discussed and agreed that some of the top soil should be used to grade the new park. Mr. Chambers will also double check to see how much top soil will be needed for the Whistlestop Park grading project. Ms. Meade asked if the tot lot at the new park would have two sets of play equipment: one for children under 5 years of age and one for children over 5 years of age. Chairman Maule said yes that is possible. Rose Twig Section Back Section Mr. Chambers said that he has to add a couple of items to the plan and then he will resubmit it to DCNR. Once it is resubmitted, the Township should have a permit within three weeks. After the permit is received, P. K. Moyer can then begin working the site. Page 3 of 6
Naming Hartman Road Park Ms. Gural-Bear explained that the Park and Recreation Board needs to decide on a name for the proposed Hartman Road Park. Chairman Maule would like to hold a naming contest for the Township residents. Park and Recreation Survey Update Ms. Gural-Bear said that Franklin and Marshall had done a presentation regarding the survey at the March 26 Board of Supervisors meeting. The Board of Supervisors approved Franklin & Marshall to conduct the survey. Starting in May, Franklin & Marshall will meet with the focus groups, which will consist of Township Staff, the Board of Supervisors, the Park and Recreation Board, the North Penn Recreation Consortium, senior citizens, and middle school/high school students. Once Franklin & Marshall has met with the focus groups, they will put together two similar surveys: one to be mailed and one for the Internet. In addition to the survey, there will be an online open forum for residents to participate. Mr. Fiel and the Park and Recreation Board members asked how they will identify who has submitted their survey. Ms. Gural-Bear explained that each survey will have an identifying number. Ms. Gural-Bear explained that the Township hopes to have the focus groups completed by the first week in May. Page 4 of 6
Installation of Flag Poles Chairman Maule said he noticed that Mr. Barndt had installed the flag poles throughout the different parks. Chairman Maule would like to have a flag-raising ceremony at Spring Valley Park on April 30 th at 6:30p.m. Mr. Witmer, Ms. DiFeo, Ms. Gural-Bear and Mr. Costello said that they would be there. The press is also invited. Review of Correspondence Vandalism of Spring Valley Park Bathrooms The Park and Recreation Board reviewed the monthly reports for the Parks Department and the Community Services Office and discussed the vandalism that has repeatedly occurred at the Spring Valley bathrooms. Further discussion ensued regarding prevention. One idea was to send letters to all the residents that live around the park asking for their help in preventing vandalism. New Business May Park and Recreation Board Meeting Ms. Gural-Bear explained to the Park and Recreation Board that the May meeting will be a combination meeting with the Open Space Committee to discuss the trail system, specifically the trail system being installed along the PECO lines on Hartman Road. 202 Parkway Dr. Kuhn said that the Township will be meeting on April 26with John Wood to facilitate a meeting to discuss trails connecting to 202 Parkway. Summer Concert Series Parking Lot Banner Ms. Gural-Bear showed the Park and Recreation Board the banner that will be hung in the parking lot for the summer concert series. The Park and Recreation Board was quite pleased. Horvath Tract Mr. Johnson asked if the Horvath Tract was being cleared. Mr. Costello said it was being cleared and a parking lot was being installed. Adjournment Page 5 of 6
There being no further business, the Park and Recreation Board meeting adjourned at 10:25p.m. Page 6 of 6